The Nation Newspaper

Tag: resolve

  • Glo, Total Promotions to resolve fight soon

    Glo, Total Promotions to resolve fight soon

    Shehu Gusau, Vice Chairman, Nigeria Premier League (NPL), on Thursday assured that the sponsorship title controversy between communication giants, Glo and Total Promotions, would be resolved soon.

    Gusau told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that this was because the NPL had engaged the warring parties in a series of meetings, for an amicable solution.

    NAN gathered that an agreement was about to be reached by the parties for Glo to take up the title sponsorship contract, while Total Promotions takes charge of the TV Rights deal.

    NAN recalled that a tripartite meeting arranged by the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, scheduled for last September in Lagos, failed to hold due to Glo’s refusal to attend.

    Glo had taken the matter to court and had insisted that attending the meeting would be tantamount to backing out on its case against Total Promotions on the sponsorship controversy. Gusau, however, said that all hands were now on deck to make sure that the Dec. 1 proposed kick-off date for the 2012/2013 was realisable.

    “Now, because of the litigation, everything is at a standstill, but I believe that it will soon be resolved from the way the minister is handling it. I hope Glo and Total Promotion will agree to dialogue.

    “I believe that by the end of this month, the matter will be resolved because the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and the NPL Annual General Meeting will hold in November,” he said.

    Gusau said that the NPL congress scheduled for Nov. 17 became necessary to enable the league board finalise other arrangements, while the board also awaits an amicable resolution of the sponsorship controversy.

    The chairman added that meanwhile, the NPL would manage without a sponsor, stressing that nothing much can be done in the league without a title sponsor.

    According to him, the NPL had been running the league with money realised from Television Rights.

    “It is from this TV Rights that we pay match officials’ indemnities, host board meetings, pay salaries and other expenses,” Gusau said.

    He pointed out that the delay in the start of the 2012/2013 season was necessary in order to resolve all the misunderstandings and to give room for a smooth league season.

    Gusau said that although, the kick-off date for the league was originally scheduled for last October, it was shifted till December on the directive of the minister.

  • Saudi Ambassador: we ‘ll resolve it today

    Saudi Ambassador: we ‘ll resolve it today

    Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Khaled Abrabuh yesterday expressed confidence that the issue of Nigerian women pilgrims detained in Saudi Arabia will be resolved today.

    Abrabuh spoke during a visit to House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal at the National Assembly.They met behind closed doors.

    Tambuwal is the head of the Federal Government team to resolve the controversy. He was appointed by Vice President Namadi Sambo who on Wednesday ordered that the Saudi Arabian government should resolve the issue with Nigeria within 24 hours

    Abrabuh said Nigeria was not singled out for the detention of female  pilgrims who fell short of the Saudi Arabian  entry requirements. He said some pilgrims from other countries have also been subjected to similar screening on arrival at the airport.

    The envoy said officials of the Saudi  Ministry of Hajj were holding talks with a delegation of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue in Mecca.

    Tambuwal also confirmed that the Nigerian mission in Riyadh had been meeting with the  Saudi authorities to end the impasse.

    The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House was on Wednesday briefed by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Mohammad Bello, who said the problem was as a result of the discovery by the Saudi Arabian authorities that many Nigerian women pilgrims were without their statutory male escorts, as required by Saudi  Arabian law.

    The Federal Government has also expressed its determination to resolve issue.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, said yesterday during visit by the House of Representatives committee on the Diaspora headed by Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

    Anyim said: “It’s a concern all of us share. It’s an embarrassment. We did not anticipate this and we cannot allow it to repeat itself.

    “I assure all our pilgrims that the government is deeply concerned about the situation and resolved to address everything promptly. We are also trying to work out an arrangement whereby even though those pilgrims come back, the issues complained about will be regularised and they can go back.

    “The President is committed to it that every person is entitled to his right to his religion.”